A former Palmerton Borough employee who is alleged to have inappropriately touched two boys, is set to have his preliminary hearing.

Larry Wanamaker, 54, of 415 State Rd., Palmerton, was scheduled to have his preliminary hearing this morning before District Judge Bruce Appleton of Palmerton.

Wanamaker faces criminal charges on two counts each of indecent assault and corruption of minors. The charges faced by Wanamaker pertain to two separate incidents that occurred between 2008 and 2009 in the borough.

Last month, borough council unanimously agreed to accept Wanamaker's resignation from his position as general laborer on the borough work crew.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by patrolman Robert Cohowicz on the first incident:

At about 12:05 p.m. July 10, a male juvenile came to the borough police department with his foster mother to file a report about a Palmerton borough crew worker. The juvenile male, who was 17 at the time the of the offense, stated he started working for the borough crew through the Carbon County Work Force on June 8, the affidavit says.

The juvenile male informed Cohowicz that during the month he worked there, he was inappropriately touched by an adult male who he identified as "Stretch." He knew his first name was Larry. Cohowicz said he personally knew the male to be Wanamaker.

The juvenile male then stated that Wanamaker would constantly talk to him about masturbation while he was alone with Wanamaker in a Palmerton Borough work truck. The juvenile male stated that Wanamaker would repeatedly touch him, over top his pants, while alone with Wanamaker in the Palmerton work truck.

On July 16, while in the police department's interview room, Cohowicz read Wanamaker his miranda warnings, which he waived. Cohowicz said Wanamaker informed him that he worked for the borough crew for about four years.

Cohowicz asked Wanamaker if during that time he worked with any juvenile summer employees, to which Wanamaker stated "all the time."

He was asked if he ever inappropriately touched any summer employees, especially the male juvenile. Wanamaker stated "no."

He was also asked if he ever talked with a juvenile summer employee about sex. Wanamaker stated "yes."

On Aug. 2 at 9 a.m., Wanamaker was interviewed by Trooper Mark Holtsmaster for a scheduled polygraph test. Wanamaker was read his miranda warnings by Trooper Holtsmaster, which he waived.

During the pretest interview, Wanamaker admitted to inappropriately touching the juvenile male, and stated that he liked the juvenile male and was trying to further a relationship that he had with him.

After the pretest interview, Holtsmaster asked Wanamaker if he would speak with Cohowicz about what he just said to Holtsmaster. Wanamaker agreed.

Holtsmaster reviewed the pretest interview with Wanamaker, who provided the same statement in Cohowicz's presence.

Cohowicz said that during the same interview with the juvenile male, he learned that Wanamaker inappropriately touched another juvenile male during the summer months of 2008, according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Cohowicz on the second incident:

Cohowicz then interviewed the second juvenile male on July 10 at 5 p.m. The juvenile male stated that he was 17 when he started working for the borough crew on June 26. The juvenile male stated that about one month after he started working for the borough crew last year, Wanamaker started talking about sex and other things of that sort.

The juvenile male stated that this would always happen when he was alone with Wanamaker in the borough work truck.

At the date of this interview, the male was 18.

The male stated that to the above of July 10, 2009, Wanamaker has continued to talk to him about sex and related topics.

On July 16 at 6:49 p.m., while in the police department's interview room, Cohowicz said he read Wanamaker his miranda warnings, which he waived.

On Aug. 2 at 9 a.m., Wanamaker was interviewed by Holtsmaster for a scheduled polygraph test. Wanamaker was read his miranda warnings by Holtsmaster, which he waived.

During the pretest interview, Wanamaker admitted to inappropriately touching the juvenile male, and stated that he liked the juvenile male and was trying to further a relationship that he had with him.

After the pretest interview, Holtsmaster asked Wanamaker if he would speak with Cohowicz about what Wanamaker just said to Holtsmaster. Wanamaker agreed.

Cohowicz then entered the room with Holtsmaster and Wanamaker. Holtsmaster reviewed the pretest interview with Wanamaker, who provided the same statement in Cohowicz's presence.